Take the sweat out of your DIY projects this year

(HIB) – You’ve been dreaming about digging in your garden, changing your landscaping or improving your house all winter long. Finally the weather is nice, your yard is clear and dry, and it’s time for you to get your hands dirty. With the right tools and equipment, you can get all your DIY tasks done while saving time, money and elbow grease.

Look for products that can help make lawn care, gardening, home improvement and other DIY projects easier to accomplish. For example, instead of laboring to push an aerator around your lawn, consider a liquid dethatcher. You apply the dethatcher using a sprayer on the end of the garden hose and the formula works to aerate soil and break up the layer of thatch that hinders grass growth.

Renting tools or equipment you use occasionally or only once a year can save you time and money. Many home improvement stores now offer a wide range of tools for rent, from bench saws and floor sanders to augers and overseeders. By renting, you avoid storage issues and maintenance chores.

One piece of equipment a DIYer can use all summer long is an off-road vehicle. By using your off-road vehicle for heavy jobs, you can avoid the expense of hiring additional workers for project such as:

* Hauling rocks or mulch around your yard. Get more done with the family of versatile Polaris RANGER side-by-sides. Their rear dump box allows you to move and distribute these materials in different garden beds or around all your trees.

* Removing dead branches and towing out bushes and trees. By either using a winch, installed on the front of the vehicle, or a tow strap attached to the rear, you can pull out old brush easily.

* Smoothing out fresh dirt with a plow. Raking by hand is messy, and takes a lot of time. Instead, hook up a plow to your off-road vehicle and gently smooth out the dirt with the plow lowered to the level you want. If the dirt is already level, attach a pull-behind rake to your vehicle to make the dirt perfect for planting or seeding.

* Carting lumber from the driveway to the back patio for easier access to the house project you’re working on. This will allow you to take fewer trips and saves your muscles from a few aches and pains, and also splinters. You also can reduce the number of helpers you need for the project – just make sure you have another person handy to help you load the vehicle.

* If you have a boat dock, use your off-road vehicle to tow it into the water for some summer fun.

After all the hard work, take your vehicle out on the trail for a bit of fun. The two-passenger RANGER side-by-sides fit into the bed of most full-sized pickups, making it easy for you and a family member to take a break from the work and hit the trails.

With the right tools, you can accomplish everything on your DIY list this summer, and enjoy the satisfaction of a job well done without the sweat of going it alone.